One Man Two Guvnors

A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

One Man Two Guvnors

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  3w, 6m

Grant Olding, Carlo Goldoni, Richard Bean

One Man Two Guvnors
written by Richard Bean
with songs by Grant Olding
based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect £6,000 from the dad of his fiancee. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who has been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers.

*Please note that, for a production, you must use the Samuel French acting edition*

Image: Tristram Kenton

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 6m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Farce, Adaptation (Stage & Screen)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Awards for Best Play
    Winner! 2012 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play
    Nominee: 2012 Olivier Award for Best New Play

Details

Summary

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect £6,000 from the dad of his fiancee. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who has been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers.

Holed up at The Cricketers Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be reunited with Rachel. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart. Simple.

Based on the classic Italian comedy The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, in this new English version by prizewinning playwright Richard Bean, with songs and music by Grant Olding, sex, food and money are high on the agenda. One Man, Two Guvnors opened at the National Theatre 17th May 2011 to critical acclaim, before transferring to the West End and embarking on a successful UK tour. It is also shortlisted for the 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Best New Play and the Best Night Out Awards.

*Please note that, for a production, you must use the Samuel French acting edition*

Cast Attributes
  • Time Period 1960s
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive, Physical Comedy, Play with Music
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media


Press reviews

‘Comic perfection.’ Daily Telegraph, March 2012

"A triumph of visual and verbal comedy. One of the funniest productions in the National's history" The Guardian

‘Of all the feelgood shows in London, this is the funniest’ Sunday Times

‘The funniest show in the western world’ Daily Mail

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

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Videos

  • Clips from the show youtube thumbnail

    Clips from the show

Photos

  • One Man Two Guvnors

    Image: Tristram Kenton

  • One Man Two Guvnors

    Image: Tristram Kenton

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £85 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.
  • Optional Music/Media Fee: £37 per performance

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Author

Grant Olding

Author

Carlo Goldoni

Richard Bean

Richard Bean was born in Hull in 1956. After school, he worked in a bread plant before leaving to study Social Psychology at Loughborough University. Richard has worked as a psychologist and a stand-up comedian. His work for the stage includes: Young Marx (which has just ...
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